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I use 1024*768 because I need to have more on screen when I'm doing things, escpecialy with a graphics package or coding with toolbars all over the place. Makes things a bit small, but it's better to use it all the time and get used to it. Even those who use high resolutions don't neccessarily have thier browsers maximized don't forget and many might have a media bar down the left side, so it neccessary to take this into account. I do keep this

The arrogance I've seen in this thread is staggering. If you "designers" who demand that people upgrade their system, or change it from settings that suit them to settings that suit you and your ego are the future of the web, then it's going to be a sorry assed future.

I just say it like I see it, without dressing it up in extra words that detract from my central point, there is never any malice behind what I say. Malice isn't my style. Being direct is the best form of communication.

The naiveté is one thing: every new designer finding his/her feet goes through it, but the arrogance and ego that has been displayed here has no place in true design. I can usually let it slide, but the display here was just too much. For god's sake people, make whatever you want to make, but to demand that people change to suit you is not being a designer.

I think someone's already made the point, but I use approximately 800x600-sized browser windows even though my monitor is running at 1600x1200. I always have a couple of browser windows open in the top half of my screen, with the bottom half having various other stuff (IRC or *shock* a text editor if I get over my laziness long enough to write some code ).

The majority of people I've seen (admittedly computer literate people) don't browse with the browser maximised, so screen res isn't the be-all and end-all (though I imagine a lot more "weekend surfers" use a maximised browser).

The naiveté is one thing: every new designer finding his/her feet goes through it, but the arrogance and ego that has been displayed here has no place in true design. I can usually let it slide, but the display here was just too much. For god's sake people, make whatever you want to make, but to demand that people change to suit you is not being a designer.

To be honest I took part in an exact thread over a devshed and to my dismay I was on the 'wrong' end in the majority of the debate. I believe we should program for the client. Most developers have an overwhelming need to always do better, which requires better reso's. This isn't always arrogance but can be the drive of becoming better.

It really comes down to are you making a website for yourself to see or the public. If you really want a arge audience base then I think 800x600.

As I think I said earlier in this thread, not everyone can afford the biggest and best and my stats show that the larger resolutions are in the minority. And that is not because people don't know how to change their resolution, they just can't afford to buy a new screen everytime a new size comes out. And it beats me how all you who do, can afford to....or is generous parents?

I must weigh in: do not explicitly design for 800x600. My sites, for the most part, are quite legible and functional when using that resolution...but they are not optimal. They are optimized for a 1024x658 resolution most of the time. Compatibility with 800x600, so that the site is not a pain to navigate and view, is important...but it shouldn't be confused with designing FOR it.

I must also say that there are times when you have to leave old browsers and resolutions behind. Where the line is drawn is very subjective. Personally, I weight the benefit the compatible users will get (almost always the overwhelming majority), versus the annoyance the "older" users will get. If I can make my site more informative, and better overall, at the cost of making it a bit more cramped, for example, than I'd like on 800x600, then I'm gonna do it.

I think you're way ahead of yourself on this one TWTCommish. You may be right, but there are very practical reasons why people are still using 800x600. It's not just a matter of choosing to change or upgrade.

I must disagree: I didn't even comment on why people use 800x600, because it doesn't really change my stance: if the site is usable, but a little more crowded for 800x600 users, but much nicer and more useful to 1024x768 users, then I think it's worthwhile. I weigh the two options against each other. Why the people use 800x600 doesn't change that decision in the least...at least not in any way that comes to mind.

I haven't even weighed in on whether or not people should upgrade, etc. That's another issue.

Originally posted by geiger tdevil, all stats will be skewed, but i think yours are a bit off. 640 users are more like 5% or less right now, and 1024x768 is more like 30%. what site did you get yours from?

Sorry mate, I copied that as is from one of my page trackers.

I will check the stats of one that a tracker has only been on for about 2 weeks and see if you are correct

Originally posted by TWTCommish
I must also say that there are times when you have to leave old browsers and resolutions behind. Where the line is drawn is very subjective. Personally, I weight the benefit the compatible users will get (almost always the overwhelming majority), versus the annoyance the "older" users will get. If I can make my site more informative, and better overall, at the cost of making it a bit more cramped, for example, than I'd like on 800x600, then I'm gonna do it.

This is where I meant you're ahead of yourself. I think it's very early days to be calling 800x600 and "old" resolution. It's still in the majority and it's not really clear that it's going to be going anywhere for quite a while.

The same logic applies, however: weigh the benefit for some users, against the inconvienence for others. That's the root of this. Right now, my site looks good on 800x600, and pretty much equally good on 1024x768. The forums, however, given the large amount of data that has to be crammed in there, though, looks great on 1024x768, but a little cramped on 800x600. That's what I'm talking about: it's a worthwhile sacrifice.

Those second stats look accurate, BTW: I know 640x480 is shrinking rapidly...800x600 will do the same over the next year or so, IMO.

I reckon 800*600 will stay stable for a while yet, or if it does dip, it will rise again. There are as yet many poorer areas of the world who are just starting to come online and they will go through the same resolution evolution as those is the west have. And there are poorer regions still and they will have their turn at the ladder.

There's that, and then there's the fact that many people's eyesight simply won't support a larger resolution comfortably without an awfully huge monitor. I think that making it harder for people to use 800x600 is really not the right thing to do at this time.

I will still design for 800x600. Not only do stats show that its the more popular resolution but I can use my studio as an example.

At our offices we have about 16 monitors. 14 of them are 15 inch monitors set at 800x600 because their main use is for the staff to access the database. So when they use the internet they are viewing sites at that resolution. The other 2 are 1280 x 1024

Now if we use Qamar's "theory of resolution in the office" that means more people use 800x600 than any other.

Originally posted by qamar I will still design for 800x600. Not only do stats show that its the more popular resolution but I can use my studio as an example.

At our offices we have about 16 monitors. 14 of them are 15 inch monitors set at 800x600 because their main use is for the staff to access the database. So when they use the internet they are viewing sites at that resolution. The other 2 are 1280 x 1024

Now if we use Qamar's "theory of resolution in the office" that means more people use 800x600 than any other.

Er! Is that a good enough reason

lol.... Not a very good sample, of all the millions of moniters in the world, 16 of them in your office doesnt mean much